WATCH: Devastating Testimony Against MN Marriage Amendment

State Representative Steve Simon (DFL) testified in opposition to a proposed anti-gay constitutional amendment to "restrict marriage as between a man and a woman," which in Minnesota needs to pass both houses by a simple majority this year and then be approved by a majority of voters on the ballot in 2012 to become law.

Rep. Simon asked a devastating question which should surely give even the most ardent heterosexual supremacist pause before a final vote on the measure: "How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves if he wants them around?" (Simon was responding to the fact that much of the opposition to marriage equality and support for writing discrimination in the Minnesota state constitution appeared to be religiously motivated despite the fact that the state only licenses civil marriages which does not influence who any church has to marry or recognize as married.) The House committee later voted 10-7 to pass the amendment to the Senate floor.

Republicans have a brand new majority in both House and Senate as of the 2010 so they should have the votes to put the measure on the ballot. It does not require Democratic Governor Mark Dayton's signature, who has expressed his opposition to the measure and his support for marriage equality.

Interestingly, at least one House Republican, Afghanistan veteran John Kriesel has announced that he will oppose the measure.

The Minnesota Star-Tribune quotes Rep. Kriesel:

"I look at it as: We are all equal," said the first year representative from Cottage Grove.

"It is not right. I can't do it. I'm very upset about this vote. I don't like it. I think it sends the wrong message. You live once in your life and I've learned that the hard way," said the military veteran, who lost his legs while serving in Iraq Afghanistan. "You never know when it is going to be your time. People fight to find happiness....You find someone you love and now other people are saying because I don't consider that normal, you can't do it?"

"It's just wrong," Kriesel said. "There is not anything that can move me on this."

He may be only Republican lawmaker to oppose the amendment. He said he is "working hard" to bring other colleagues along.

Let's hope there are more fair-minded Republicans like Rep. Kriesel in the Minnesota Legislature.